The selection of an initial meridian related to meridians now in use gives us a sufficiently wide choice. Allow me to read the following list, showing the number and the total tonnage of vessels using the several meridians named, in ascertaining their longitude. ====================================================================== | SHIPS OF ALL KINDS. | PER CENT. INITIAL MERIDIANS. +---------------------+-------------------- | Number. | Tonnage. | Ships. | Tonnage. ---------------------------+---------+-----------+--------+----------- Greenwich..................| 37,663 |14,600,972 | 65 | 72 Paris......................| 5,914 | 1,735,083 | 10 | 8 Cadiz......................| 2,468 | 666,602 | 5 | 3 Naples.....................| 2,263 | 715,448 | 4 | 4 Christiana.................| 2,128 | 695,988 | 4 | 3 Ferro......................| 1,497 | 567,682 | 2 | 3 Pulkova....................| 987 | 298,641 | 11/2 | 11/2 Stockholm..................| 717 | 154,180 | 11/2 | 1 Lisbon.....................| 491 | 164,000 | 1 | 1 Copenhagen.................| 435 | 81,888 | 1 | 1/2 Rio de Janeiro.............| 253 | 97,040 | 1/2 | 1/2 Miscellaneous..............| 2,881| 534,569 | 41/2 | 21/2 |---------+-----------+--------+----------- Total ...............| 57,697|20,312,093 | 100 | 100 ---------------------------+---------+-----------+--------+-----------